歐洲盃在即 瑞士進口土豆力保薯條供應

The Swiss government has agreed to ease restrictions on the importation of potatoes following fears that Euro 2008 football fans could face a shortage of French fries next month.

A spokesman for the country's department of agriculture told national radio on Wednesday that the government would allow an additional 5,000 tonnes of potatoes to be brought in.

The decision follows a request by Swiss potato industry association Swisspatat who warned that supplies were already running low in the buildup to the June tournament.

The association has estimated that 3,000 additional tonnes will be needed to make chips for foreign supporters, with the remaining 2,000 used for other forms of potato.

Switzerland has already been fretting over dwindling supplies of its beloved 'cervelat' sausage following a European Union ban on the Brazilian cows' intestines traditionally used to encase the meat.

Economics minister Doris Leuthard, who is also responsible for agriculture, told the national parliament in March there were enough cervelats in reserve to last at least through Euro 2008.

The tournament runs from June 7 to 29 and will be co-hosted by Switzerland and neighbouring Austria.

2008年“歐洲盃”足球賽將於下月開幕，因擔心炸薯條在此期間供不應求，瑞士政府日前批准放寬土豆進口限制。

瑞士農業部發言人於本週三接受全國廣播電臺的採訪時說，政府將批准再進口五千噸土豆。

應瑞士馬鈴薯行業協會Swisspatat的申請，瑞士政府做出了這一決定。瑞士馬鈴薯協會此前發出警告，瑞士國內的土豆供應在“歐洲盃”開幕前已開始出現短缺。

據瑞士馬鈴薯協會估計，在額外進口的土豆中，其中三千噸將做成薯片供應外國球迷，另外兩千噸將做成其它土豆類食品。

薰香腸是瑞士人最愛的食品之一，但由於歐盟禁止其成員國進口用於製作香腸的巴西牛腸，瑞士已爲薰香腸供應不足而大傷腦筋。

瑞士經濟兼農業部長多利斯•盧瑟德於三月在議會上說，目前瑞士的薰香腸儲備量至少能維持“歐洲盃”比賽期間的供應。

2008年“歐洲盃”將於下月7日至29日舉行，由瑞士及其鄰國奧地利聯合主辦。